Hypertension in the elderly: don't treat too quickly!

In the asymptomatic patient without target organ damage who is seen with severely elevated BP, pseudohypertension is more often than not the cause. Rapid lowering of arterial pressure is unnecessary and even contraindicated. Nurses play an important role in the evaluation and the treatment of elderly patients with hypertension. Both research-based practice and thorough evaluation and monitoring are requisite for safe and effective treatment. Given the seriousness of the adverse effects and the lack of outcome data, the use of sublingual nifedipine capsules in hypertensive emergencies and pseudohypertension should be abandoned.